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Here and There on the Turf Messengers Misfortune. Edicts Spinaway Victory. Whitneys Hopeful Stakes Eligibles. It is little short of a calamity that August Belmonts two-year-old Messenger has been thrown out of training. The son of Fair Play and Mission has attracted more attention than any of the two-year-olds of the year, and in his short racing career was already hailed as the colt best qualified to finish the racing season at the top of the heap. Messenger is bred along similar lines to those of the mighty Man o War, being by the same sire and from a Rock Sand mare, Man o Wars dam being also a Rock Sand. Apart from his sturdy blood lines no colt more looked the part than Messenegr. A colt of great size and substance he is built along racing lines and is exquisitely balanced, with long well-placed muscles, which only suggest the power and speed that is his by a careful inspection. In each of his appearances he improved and when lie was forced into his temporary retirement it removed the most dangerous eligible to the Futurity. When Mr. Belmont announced that Messenger would be reserved for the Futurity and not be started in the Hopeful, the announcement was as music to the ears of some of those who had eligibles to the closing stake race of the Saratoga meeting. v The success of Edict in the Spinaway Stakes, after she had raced earlier among the selling platers, was a development. It might be said on behalf of Edict that Hil-dreth himself was in a measure fooled by the filly, and he considered her just a high-class selling plater in the early meeting. This is pretty well shown when he declares her out of several of her big stake engagements, including the Futurity. She had not been nominated for the Hopeful. J. C. Milam was one who felt that he had the stake money in his pocket with his good filly Anna M. Humphrey. Unfortunately, both she and his Flash Stakes winner. Dust Flower, went wrong, as did Messenger, and they were not even able to keep their engagements in the Spinaway won by Edict Saturday. Milam never had a doubt of winning the Spinaway Stakes, and if both of his fillies had gone to the post fit he expected to finish first and second. Then when Mr. Belmont made known his intention of- not starting Messenger in the Hopeful Stakes, Milam expressed the opinion that the would also take down that race. However, he has suffered the same sort of luck that visited the Belmont stable. It may be that the heavy condition of the track Saturday played an important part in the decision of the Spinaway Stakes, but Edict, no matter what the track condition, was graduated with flying colors from the ranks of the selling platers. Harry Payne Whitney, with Flagstaff, Rialto, Picketcr, Chickvale, Enchantment, Twaddle, Panache and Quarrel, has Hopeful Stakes eligibles enough, and it would not be at all surprising if Enchantment is the only starter of the band in the big race. This fast gelding has been exceedingly green in his races, but Rowe tried him with blinkers in his last race and it made a difference that will probably see this rogues badge a part of his future equipment.
